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Saturday, April 25, 2020

Frederick Gutekunst 1831-1917 - An Appreciation of the Late Frederick Gutekunst


The Photographic Times - No. 541 - 29 January 1892

An Appreciation of the late Frederick Gutekunst
During the Centennial year (1876) when we, at that time happened to be the errand boy for Frederick Gutekunst, we never anticipated that in 1917 we would write an appreciation of and obituary on this grand old man of photography.
Frederick Gutekunst, with a national reputation as a photographer, died on April 27th, at his home in Philadelphia. Mr. Gutekunst, who would have been eighty-six years old on September 25th, suffered from Bright's disease, and had been critically ill eight weeks. The acute stage of his sickness was brought about by a fall that occurred as Mr. Gutekunst was about to return from his home to his studio after luncheon. It had been his habit to go home every day at noon.
Mr. Gutekunst had photographed more of the world's celebrated people than perhaps any man in this country. Among the personages who sat before his camera were Presidents of the United States, famous generals, ecclesiastics, actors and actresses and statesmen. He had received decorations from kings and emperors.
Born in Germantown (now a part of Philadelphia) in 1831, Mr. Gutekunst received his early education there and at the age of seven he and his parents moved to Philadelphia. When twelve years old he was apprenticed by his father to Joseph Simon Cohen, to study law. Before the expiration of his apprenticeship he gave up the idea of becoming a lawyer and was apprenticed to a druggist at Second and Callowhill Streets. At this place he remained seven years and here he first conceived the idea of becoming a photographer.
At night and during his spare time he experimented in photography and, with the aid of his father, finally constructed a crude camera. On the following day he met a man who had a lens, a rare thing in those days, and he gave the last $5 he had in the world for it. He made his own plates by coating them with collodion, and was finally able to take pictures of his friends in the rear of the drug-store.
On obtaining a position with another drug-store at an increase in salary, he laid aside enough money to attend the College of Pharmacy. After graduating from there, the photographic hobby was in him stronger than ever.
Passing through Arch Street with a companion one day, Mr. Gutekunst noticed that 706 Arch Street (then No. 164) was for rent. He remarked that it would be a good place for a gallery, and on his arrival at home mentioned the house to his brother. The latter at once said that the place should be rented on Monday morning, but Mr. Gutekunst went to his work as usual. In the course of the day he was informed that his brother had taken the Arch Street house, and he was, therefore, obliged to give notice to his employer that he intended to leave.
The gallery was quickly fitted up with the necessary skylight, and Mr. Gutekunst began in 1856 his long career as a professional photographer with his $5 lens and his camera box that had been made by himself, with the aid of his father, for amateur work. Success attended the undertaking from the beginning and gradually the outfit was improved.
In 1864 he moved the studio to the present location, 712 Arch Street, occupying the entire building.
About fifteen years ago Mr. Gutekunst opened a branch studio at Broad and Columbia Avenue, Philadelphia, and placed an energetic photographer (Mr. William Braucher) in charge. This studio is in successful operation today in conjunction with the Arch Street place. Our photo of Mr. Gutekunst was made by Mr. Braucher at the Columbia Avenue studio.
Mr. Gutekunst was the pioneer in having his sitters entertained with music while in the studio. At the Centennial Exposition in 1876, an automatic organ was on display, using a large cylinder with teeth, similar to the old style music boxes. He purchased this and had it installed in his camera room. The music played was of a high order and this organ is in active operation to this day.
About a year ago the business was in corporated, some of the older employees taking stock in the new company. Mr. Braucher resigned at that time.
Mr. Gutekunst might have died a man of ease and wealth, but with his characteristic generosity he gave away a couple of fortunes to assist those who should have bettered his declining days.
But the name of Frederick Gutekunst will never be forgotten in photography.
F. V. C.

(Source: Bulletin of photography. v.20 no.509 1917.)


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Thursday, April 23, 2020

Manfield & Baird, Jewelers, 1416 Chestnut Street - 1874






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Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion - SW Broad and Arch Streets - Fraser, Furness & Hewitt 1875




English Lutheran, south-west corner of Broad and Arch streets, will be, when completed, one of the finest churches in the city. The prevailing material is green stone variegated with light sandstone and stone of other colors. The style is castellated rather than ecclesiological. The design of the building carries out the idea of Luther, “Ein feste Bourg ist unser Gott”—“Our Lord is a strong castle.” The square tower at the north-east corner rises from the pave ment in the castellated style to the height of 92 feet. At the corners are to be circular turrets with pinnacles. Above all will rise a slated Mansārd roof with louvre windows, making the total height 147 feet. There is to be an ornamental railing on the peak. The main audience-room is 112 by 70 feet. The building is 75 feet on Arch street by 139 feet deep. The style will remind the traveller of the castellated structures on the Rhine and throughout Germany. It is Florid German-Gothic. On the Arch street front the main building is relieved by a covered arcade, the arches being supported on polished stone pillars. The interior is richly fitted up, and the cost of the building was over $200,000. This church was dedicated in 1875.

(Source: The official guide book to Philadelphia by Thompson Westcott, 1875)


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Horticultural Hall - Interior - Centennial Exposition - NYPL Collection





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Building of Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion - SW Broad and Arch Streets - circa 1874





Shortlived (left) Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, SW corner Broad and Arch Streets. Circa 1874. NYPL Collection. Mislabeled as Building of the new Masonic Temple. 

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Monday, April 6, 2020

Wheatsworth Mills - Hamburg NJ



New York Tribube 8 July 1920



Practical dietetics with reference to diet in health and disease. ... Pattee, Alida Frances. 1923





Brooklyn Union Standard 7 Mar 1924




Schenectady Gazette 9 Oct 1936



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Thursday, April 2, 2020

Harry E. Shaw - Great Council of Red Men 1901 - Inquirer 26 May 1901


IN MEMORIAM.
HARRY E. SHAW GREAT REPRESENTATIVE.
On the 22d sun, Flower Moon, G. S. D. 410, the Great .Spirit called from among us Great Representative Harry E. Shaw, of Pennsylvania. Brother Shaw at the time of his decease was serving his third term in the Great Council of the United States as a Representative from the Great Coun cil of Pennsylvania. .
Quiet in his demeanor, he was, nevertheless, an active participant in the affairs of this Great Council, and was greatly esteemed by all its members.
To his widow we extend our heartfelt sympathies in this, the hour of her affliction.

(Record of the Great Council of Red Men, the United States ... 1900-01.)


GREAT REPRESENTATIVE HARRY E. SHAW 

Past Sachem Harry E. Shaw, of Pennsylvania, was admitted into the Improved Order of Red Men in Buck Moon, G. S. D. 392, as a charter member of Sakima Tribe, No. 9, of Philadelphia; was elected Junior Sagamore and advanced through the various stations in the Tribe. He was admitted into the Great Council of Pennsylvania, Beaver Moon, G. S. D. 393, representing his Tribe at the session held at Pottsville. His popularity as a member soon won for him the recognition of that body and his services as an appointed Great Chief and as a member of the Committees on Finance and Law and Usage and on the Board of Appeals placed him in line of promotion. He was elected and served as Representative to the Great Council of the United States for three terms. Believing that his work as a Red Man should cover other hunting grounds than that of Sakima, he asso ciated together a number of friends and organized Yolo Tribe, No. 377, of which he was a member at the time of his death. While in the midst of his duties his spirit was called away to the land of Ponemah. He was a true friend, a loving brother and a devoted comrade.




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